Geranium plant named ‘Balfanfaro’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘Balfanfaro’, characterized by its numerous semi-double salmon-colored flowers; floriferousness; upright growth habit; basal branching and vigor; and medium green leaves with a faint zonation pattern.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geraniumplant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Balfanfaro.

The new Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of the breedingprogram was to develop new cultivars with freely-branching growth habit,dark green-colored foliage, uniform flowering, rounded umbels, andinteresting flower and foliage colors.

The new Geranium originated from a cross made by the Inventor of theproprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection 1202-1, as the male, orpollen parent, with the proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection4109-C as the female, or seed parent. The cultivar Balfanfaro wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in ArroyoGrande, Calif., in December, 1995.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken atArroyo Grande, Calif., has shown that the unique features of this newGeranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Balfanfaro’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Balfanfaro’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Numerous semi-double salmon-colored flowers.

2. Very freely flowering.

3. Upright growth habit.

4. Basal branching and vigorous.

5. Medium green leaves with a faint zonation pattern.

The new Geranium can be compared to the cultivar, BFP-825 Salmon Rose,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,534. However, in side-by sidecomparisons conducted in Arroyo Grande, Calif., plants of the newGeranium differ from plants of the cultivar BFP-825 Salmon Rose in thefollowing characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Geranium have smaller leaves than plants of thecultivar BFP-825 Salmon Rose.

2. Leaves of plants of the new Geranium have a less distinct zonationpattern than plants of the cultivar BFP-825 Salmon Rose.

3. Plants of the new Geranium have more flowers per umbel than plants ofthe cultivar BFP-825 Salmon Rose.

4. Flowers of plants of the new Geranium have more petals than plants ofthe cultivar BFP-825 Salmon Rose.

5. Flower color of plants of the new Geranium is different from theflower color of plants of the cultivar BFP-825 Salmon Rose.

A detailed comparison of plants of the cultivar Balfanfaro and thecultivar BFP-825 Salmon Rose, as grown side by side, appears in Chart Aat the end of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographcomprises to atop perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Balfanfaro’.Flower and foliage colors in the photograph may appear different fromthe actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Balfanfaro has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations,measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in 10-cm pots inArroyo Grande, Calif., under commercial practice in a glass-coveredgreenhouse with day temperatures about 20 to 22° C., night temperaturesabout 18 to 20° C. and light levels generally about 2,500 to 3,000footcandles.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar Balfanfaro.

Parentage:

Male parent.—Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection 1202-1

Female parent.—Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection 4109-C.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate root.—About 7 days at 18° C.

Time to develop roots.—About 21 days at 18° C.

Rooting habit.—Fibrous and freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.—Upright growth habit. Appropriate for 10 and 12.5-cmcontainers.

Crop time.—Starting with a rooted cutting, about eight weeks arerequired to produced a finished flowering plant in 10-cm container.

Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous and basal branching with about twoor three lateral branches at the base. Pinching, that is, removal of theterminal apex, is usually not required.

Plant height (to top of foliage).—About 12 to 16 cm.

Plant width.—About 17 to 19 cm.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 6 to 11 cm. Internode length: About 1.5to 2 cm. Color: 146A.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, generally symmetrical, abundant,opposite. Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: About 7 to 9. Length:About 4.1 to 5.4 cm. Width: About 7 to 8.5 cm. Shape: Reniform. Apex:Rounded. Base: Cordate. Margin: Crenate. Venation: Palmate. Texture:Both surfaces pubescent; velvety. Color: Fully expanded foliage, uppersurface: 147B with faint zonation pattern, slightly darker than 147B incolor and about 2 cm in width. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface:137B. Venation, upper surface: 144B. Venation, lower surface: 144B.Petiole: Length: About 4.5 to 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 3 mm. Color:Between 146A and 147A.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Salmon-colored flowers. Freely and continuouslyflowering. Flowers arranged in substantially hemispherical umbelsarising from apical leaf axils. Umbels displayed above or beyond thefoliage. At full flowering, usually about two or three open umbels andabout two developing umbels per plant. Flowers semi-double and round.Umbels persistent. Not fragrant.

Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In the garden,flowering is continuous from spring until fall.

Umbels.—Number of flowers per umbel: About 55 to 65. Diameter: About10.3 to 12 cm. Height: About 6 to 7.3 cm.

Flowers.—Diameter: About 4.5 to 5.5 cm. Depth (height): About 2 to 2.5cm.

Flower buds.—Length: About 1.4 to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 7 to 11 mm.Shape: Oval.

Petals.—Quantity: About 7 or 8 petals and about 3 or 4irregularly-shaped petaloids per flower. Arrangement: Imbricate. Length:About 2.2 to 2.9 cm. Width: About 2.2 to 2.6 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth. Color: Fullyopened, upper surface: Close to 52A, with subsequent development, 66C.Fully opened, lower surface: Between 52B and 52C.

Sepals.—Quantity: About 5 or 6, not imbricate. Length: About 13 to 14mm. Width: About 3 to 4 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Pointed. Margin:Entire. Texture: Pilose. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 146A.

Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 13 to 15 cm. Angle: Erect.Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Young, 144A; mature, 181A.

Pedicel (Individual flower stem).—Length: About 4.3 to 5.4 cm. Angle:Upright to outward. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146Bwith streaks of 183C.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Anther size: About 1.5 to 2 mm. Anthercolor: 51A. Pollen color: 167B. Gynoecium: Ovary color: Green.

Disease resistance: Resistance to pathogens common to Pelargonium hasnot been observed.

Seed development: Seed production has not been observed.

CHART A ‘BFP-825 CHARACTERISTIC ‘BALFANFARO’ SALMON ROSE’ PLANT HEIGHTAbout 12 to 16 cm About 12 to 16 cm (to top of foliage) PLANT WIDTHAbout 17 to 19 cm About 18 to 20 cm NUMBER OF LATERAL About 2 or 3 About3 to 5 BRANCHES LEAF LENGTH About 4.1 to 5.4 cm About 7 to 10 cm LEAFWIDTH About 7 to 8.5 cm About 8 to 11 cm LEAF ZONATION Faint zonationpattern Distinct zonation PATTERN pattern PETIOLE COLOR Between 146A and144B 147A NUMBER OF FLOWERS About 55 to 65 About 25 to 35 PER UMBELNUMBER OF PETALS About 7 or 8 About 5 or 6 PER FLOWER PETAL COLOR, FULLYClose to 52A 57B OPENED, UPPER SURFACE PETAL COLOR, FULLY Between 52Band 52C 58C OPENED, LOWER SURFACE PEDUNCLE COLOR Young, 144A; 144Amature, 181A PEDICEL COLOR 146B; 183C streaks of 183C SEPAL LENGTH About1.3 to 1.4 cm About 1 to 1.1 cm SEPAL WIDTH About 3 to 4 mm About 2 to 3mm SEPAL COLOR 146A 146A; streaks of 183C POLLEN COLOR 167B 131A

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named‘Balfanfaro’, as